Missing persons’ case: MQM submits list of 171 workers

Apex court will take up the issue of enforced disappearances today

ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has submitted in the Supreme Court a list of its 171 missing workers of which 100 have been missing since January this year. The matter relates to the case of missing persons being heard by the top court.

On Monday, MQM Senator Atiqur Rehman submitted a detailed report, accusing the paramilitary Rangers of picking up most of its workers from their residences in different parts of the country.

Atiq said the list did not include the names of the party workers who have been presented before courts. The court is likely to club the MQM’s list with the original missing persons’ case.

The list also contains all particulars of the individuals, including their identities, residential addresses and places from they were picked up.

While hearing the missing persons’ case on March 18, Chief Justice Anwer Zaheer Jamali had directed the MQM to submit a list of its missing workers.

The apex court will take up the matter today (Tuesday) while hearing the main petition filed by human rights activist Amina Masood Janjua, who has been pursuing cases of missing persons for a decade now.

The case also has been pending before the inquiry commission on enforced disappearances.

In compliance with the Supreme Court’s order, Janjua had filed a three-page report on the working of the inquiry commission on the basis of her personal experiences as well as through the complaints registered through the families of missing persons.

The petitioner had earlier asked for winding up the commission proceedings, asking it to submit its findings and recommendations within one month and grant a dedicated apex court bench to resolve the missing persons’ issue.

The government formed the first commission of inquiry on enforced disappearances in January 2010. The commission headed by Justice (retd) Kamal Mansoor Alam and members Justice (retd) Nasira Javed Iqbal and Justice (retd) Fazlur Rehman, concluded its hearings on December 31, 2010.

The Defence of Human Rights organisation has registered 1,132 cases of enforced disappearances with the inquiry commission so far.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.